And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is the high priest's shift from asking what the witnesses said to demanding Jesus' response. He's not really seeking truth, but trying to trap Jesus into confessing something that could be twisted into blasphemy. Jesus’ silence, though, is a powerful testament to his innocence and his reliance on God's timing.
And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has been arrested and is now before the high priest Caiaphas and the Jewish council, facing false accusations. When the accusers present their testimonies, Jesus remains silent, refusing to defend himself against their fabricated charges. The high priest, frustrated by Jesus' silence and eager to condemn him, directly addresses Jesus, demanding an answer to the accusations.
Why would Jesus, the truth itself, remain silent when falsely accused? It wasn't a sign of guilt, but of profound wisdom.
Jesus was on trial, facing a barrage of accusations, yet he offered no defense. This silence wasn't born of ignorance or inability to respond. The text suggests Jesus knew the charges were baseless and that his accusers were driven by malice, not truth. He understood that arguing with them would be futile and that his hour, as part of God's plan, had come. His silence fulfilled prophecy and demonstrated an incredible inner peace and authority, even in the face of unjust condemnation.
The high priest's question wasn't a genuine plea for an answer, but a desperate attempt to force Jesus into a confession that would seal his doom.
When Jesus remained silent, the high priest became agitated. He wasn't seeking justice; he was seeking condemnation. He 'adjured' Jesus, essentially putting him under oath, using the most solemn form of oath known. This was a trap. If Jesus confessed he was the Christ, the Son of God, they had their pretext for accusing him of blasphemy. If he denied it, they could brand him a liar and an impostor. This highlights the intense pressure and the cruel ingenuity of those determined to destroy Jesus, despite the lack of any real evidence against him.
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archiereus · Greek Noun
A high-ranking religious official in Israel, specifically the head of the Aaronic priesthood who oversaw the sacrificial system and entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement.
This moment captures the dramatic tension of Jesus' trial. The high priest's question is a desperate attempt to secure a conviction after false witnesses failed, putting Jesus in an impossible situation where confession meant death and denial would mean being branded an imposter.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Trial Before the Sanhedrin
Following his arrest, Jesus was brought before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, for trial. This occurred in the hours after his arrest on Passover night.
c. 30 AD
Caiaphas Presides Over the Trial
Caiaphas, the high priest and head of the Sanhedrin, played a central role in Jesus' trial, seeking to secure a conviction.
c. 30 AD
False Witnesses Testify Against Jesus
During the trial, witnesses were brought forward to testify against Jesus. However, their testimonies were inconsistent and ultimately failed to provide a solid case.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is Charged with Blasphemy
When Jesus confessed to being the Christ, the Son of God, under oath, the Sanhedrin declared him guilty of blasphemy, a capital offense.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is Sent to Pilate
After the Sanhedrin's verdict, Jesus was handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, for sentencing and execution.
This passage directly speaks to Jesus' silence during his trial, fulfilling the prophecy that the suffering servant would be led like a lamb to the slaughter and would not open his mouth.
Psalm 35:11-12David's lament here mirrors Jesus' situation, crying out against false witnesses and the pain of those who repay good with evil, highlighting the injustice Jesus faced.
1 Peter 2:23Peter explicitly links Jesus' suffering and silence to Isaiah's prophecy, showing how Jesus' example of entrusting himself to God even in unjust condemnation continues to teach believers how to respond to wrongful accusations.
Daniel 7:13-14The high priest's questioning, particularly Jesus' response about seeing the Son of Man coming on the clouds, directly connects to Daniel's vision of the Son of Man receiving eternal dominion, revealing the divine identity Jesus was accused of claiming.
barnesMatthew 26:62: "And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"
Jesus held his peace - Was silent. He knew that the evidence did not even appear to amount to anything worth a reply. He knew that they were aware of that, and that feeling that, the high priest attempted to draw something from him on which they could condemn him. I adjure thee by the living God - I put thee upon thy oath before God. This was the usual form of putt…
bensonMatthew 26:62: "And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"
Matthew 26:62-64 . And the high-priest arose, (Mark, stood up in the midst, ) and said, Answerest thou nothing? — When the high-priest found that Jesus took little notice of the things which the witnesses alleged against him, he rose from his seat in a passion, supposing that our Lord intended to put an affront upon the council, and desired him to give the reason o…
What's striking here is the high priest's shift from asking what the witnesses said to demanding Jesus' response. He's not really seeking truth, but trying to trap Jesus into confessing something that could be twisted into blasphemy. Jesus’ silence, though, is a powerful testament to his innocence and his reliance on God's timing.
Jesus has been arrested and is now before the high priest Caiaphas and the Jewish council, facing false accusations. When the accusers present their testimonies, Jesus remains silent, refusing to defend himself against their fabricated charges. The high priest, frustrated by Jesus' silence and eager to condemn him, directly addresses Jesus, demanding an answer to the accusations.
Jesus has been arrested and is now before the high priest Caiaphas and the Jewish council, facing false accusations. When the accusers present their testimonies, Jesus remains silent, refusing to defend himself against their fabricated charges. The high priest, frustrated by Jesus' silence and eager to condemn him, directly addresses Jesus, demanding an answer to the accusations.
"And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”" — What's striking here is the high priest's shift from asking what the witnesses said to demanding Jesus' response. He's not really seeking truth, but trying to trap Jesus into confessing something tha…
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Last reviewed October 2026